Schulbesuch, Klassenwiederholung

On this page you will find initial information on the subject of grade repetition in Hamburg.

Repeating a class or year in Hamburg is only possible in exceptional cases regulated by law. The principle of promoting instead of repeating applies.
The exact regulations can be found in § 45 of the Hamburg School Act, § 12 (2) to § 12 (4) of the training and examination regulations for primary school and grades 5 to 10 of the district school and high school, as well as § 4 of the training and Examination regulations for acquiring the general higher education entrance qualification.

Applications are generally made at the school you are currently attending. The respective school decides independently about repetitions of grades 1-9 and 11-13. Repetitions of class 10 and withdrawals from class 10 in class 9 are decided by the authorities. As a rule, a decision can only be made after the decision of the certificate conference.

Advice and applications are made for all grades in the school currently attended.

For repetition according to § 12 (2) APO-GrundStGy:

• Reasoned request
• The previous learning and performance development was made considerably more difficult due to illness or serious stress.
• Better support in the following grade is to be expected.
• If grade 10 is to be repeated, there must be an expectation that a degree or promotion that has not yet been achieved will be achieved.

For repetition according to § 12 (3) APO-GrundStGy:

• Reasoned request
• Despite continuous one-year participation in learning support, the minimum requirements of the grade were not met.
• The current year and the previous year have not yet been repeated.
• Application only for grades 7-10.

For repetition according to § 12 (4) APO-GrundStGy:

• Reasoned request
• First advanced school leaving certificate must have been obtained.
• 10th grade can only be repeated once.
• It must be expected that a degree that has not yet been achieved or a promotion will be achieved. For this, certain grade requirements must be met.

For repetition according to § 4 APO-AH:

• Reasoned request
• Successful participation is significantly impaired due to learning and performance development.
• Better support in the following year can be expected.
• A withdrawal by one school year is also permissible if admission to the written Abitur examination was not achieved.

The processing time depends on the individual case.

The application for repeating grade 10 must be submitted no later than 4 weeks before the start of the summer holidays (please ask the school about the date). Applications submitted later can only be processed at a later stage, if necessary only after the holidays. If a change of school (Form AS 80) is notified at the same time, both applications must be submitted by May 31, 2023.

There are no deadlines for repeats in other grades. The later the application is submitted, the later a decision can be made.

Repeating a class or year in Hamburg is only possible in exceptional cases regulated by law.

Applications are generally made at the school you are currently attending.

Counseling takes place in the school currently attended.

You can object to a decision within one month. This has no suspensive effect. However, if the objection procedure is wholly or partially unsuccessful, costs may arise.

• In principle, the repetition of a class is not intended.
• The principle of "support instead of repetition" applies.
• The school in question is the first point of contact for repeat applications.
• The decisions are made directly by the schools in grades 1-9 and 11-13.
• Repetitions of grade 10 are decided by the authorities.
• A repetition is only permitted in three specific case constellations.

- responsible: authority for schools and vocational training and their schools

School and Vocational Training Authority